Southampton have been told by former Crotone sporting director Giuseppe Ursino that they have been linked to an 'exceptional' manager in Ivan Juric.

The Lowdown: Saints linked...

The Torino boss has been mentioned as a candidate to take over from Nathan Jones after Luton's ex-boss was shown his marching orders earlier this week.

Juric has been revered for his job in Serie A, leading to Southampton and Sport Republic taking an interest in him as they battle Premier League relegation.

The Athletic claim an enquiry for Juric was made before failed talks with Jesse Marsch and he has been 'linked' to taking the job - though it remains to be seen if Southampton come back in for him.

The Latest: Ursino praises Juric...

Speaking in an interview with TUTTOmercatoWEB, ex-Crotone club chief Ursino has heaped praise on the 47-year-old - calling him an 'exceptional' boss who can 'coach anywhere'.

He said:

"Before making judgments, I believe that we must always put the person to the test. For me, someone who coaches Turin, taking them from the relegation zone and bringing them close to the Europe zone, can coach anywhere. Juric is an exceptional person who cares about the team, the club and its players."

The Verdict: Right man?

A Saints decision is set to be made on who will take the reins imminently, with Southampton expected to either appoint Ruben Selles until the end of the season or continue their search after Chelsea this weekend.

If Southampton opt for the latter call, Juric may be the ideal candidate considering his stellar job with Torino in Italy.

The Turin outfit are currently seventh in Serie A with Italian football expert Chloe Beresford previously hailing his 'brilliant' job at the club.

After doing such a solid job with limited funds, not to mention losing key players like Gleison Bremer, we believe Juric could in fact be ready for the big time if Southampton elect to reignite their interest.